Report: Vaccines Safe, Not Linked To Autism

In the first comprehensive review of vaccine safety since 1994, yet another body of medical researchers is affirming that there is no link between vaccines and autism.

The finding comes in a report released Thursday from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, that was produced at the federal government’s request.

For the review, a committee of experts analyzed over 1,000 research articles focusing on eight vaccines and their relation to 158 possible reactions. Overall, they found that side effects from immunizations are generally limited and temporary.

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“Vaccines are not free from side effects, or ‘adverse effects,’ but most are very rare or very mild,” the group said.

The report indicates 14 cases where evidence suggests that vaccines could cause health problems such as seizures, severe allergic reactions and brain swelling.

However, the Institute of Medicine panel soundly rejected any link between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine after assessing 22 studies on the topic.

“The findings should be reassuring to parents that few health problems are clearly connected to immunizations, and these effects occur relatively rarely,” said committee chair Ellen Wright Clayton, a professor of pediatrics and law at Vanderbilt University.

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